Rail-bond.



W. J. RANDOLPH, SR- 6: W. J. RANDOLPH, JR. RAIL 130m).

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 1910 M97292, Patented Dec.2( ),1910.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. RANDOLPH, SR., AND WILLIAM J. RANDOLPH, JR., OF MOSCOW, NEW YORK.

RAIL-BOND.

specification of Letters Patent. I Patented Dec. 20, 1910.

Application filed July 1, 1910. Serial No. 568,926.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM J. RAN- noLrH, Sr., and WILLIAM J RANDOLPH, J r., citizens of the United States, residing at Moscow, in the county of Livingston and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Rail-Bonds, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in rail bonds or connections which serve to connect electrically the adjacent ends of the rails of a railway track through the fish plates for the purpose of adapting the track to be used as a conductor of electric current;

The object of the invention is to provide a rail bond of simple and inexpensive construction which will form a secure and positive electrical connection between the rails and the fish plates and which is so constructed that it can be easily and quickly secured in position for connecting the railsand fish plates which are commonly used in track construction and requires no separate securing device for this purpose, nor any change nor alteration in the construction'of the rails and fish plates. 1

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a ortion of a railroad track showing a rail oint provided with rail bonds embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan thereof on line 2-2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation thereof on line 33, Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of one end of the rail bond. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the rail bond.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures.

The rails and fish plates to which the ail bonds are adapted to be secured may be of any usual and suitable construction. In the construction shown, A A represent the abutting rails and B B the fish plates which connect the ends of the rails on both sides thereof. These fish plates are secure d to the rails by means of the usual bolts C which pass through holes in the plates and in the web portions of the rails.

D 1) represent the rail bonds which connect the opposite ends of the fish plates to the rails andare preferably arranged on both sides of the rail. Each rail bond con- 'sists of a plate or bod portion d which extends lengthwise of t e rail and has ofiset- .end portlons or flanges d d, the ends of which are adaptedto engage the web porof the rail bond will extend substantially,

parallel to the rail when, the rail bond is in position thereon. Intermediate between its ends, the body portion of the rail bond is provided with a suitable hole d through which a bolt d or other suitable securing device is adapted to pass. The bolt d extends through the usual holes which are provided in the rail and end portion of the fish plate for receiving the connectin bolts C.

The rail bonds on the opposite sides of the rail at the ends of the fish plates are preferably directly opposite to each other so that the bolt (1 serves to secure the corresponding ,rail bonds in position.

The end portions or flanges d d are provided with suit-able prongs or contact points which are adapted to be forced into the material of the rail and fish plate when the' rail bond is secured thereto and which insure a good contact therewith. In the construction shown, the prongs consist of pins or studs E which have threaded stems e which are screwed into suitable holes in the end flanges (Z d of the rail bond. Each of these studs is provided at its outer end with a central contact point or prong e and an annular edge portion or contact ring (2 which surrounds the contact point e and is spaced therefrom.

In securing the rail bond to the rail andfish plate, the body portion of the rail bond isv hammered, or otherwise driven, suffi- I ciently to bring the contact points and the annular edges of the studs It into positive engagement with the rail and fish plate, the contact points and edges preferably enetrating a short distance into the material of the rail and fish plate so as to form an intimate electrical contact therewith. The space between the annular edge e and the contact point e 'ispreferably filled with a suitable I made of a harder grade of steel than the body portion of the bond, and also permits the studs, when worn or broken, to be readily removed and new studs inserted. \Vhile the construction described is preferable, any other suitable detachable contacts may be employed, or, if desired, the rail bonds may be provided with contact points integrally formed therewith.

The rail bonds can be easily and quickly secured in place at the opposite ends of the fish plates. It is only necessary to place the rail bonds in position opposite to each other on opposite sides of the rail and with their holes 'l in alinen'ient with the bolt holes in the corresponding ends of the fish plates and rail so that the bolts (6* can be readily inserted through these holes For securing the rail bonds in position. The body portions ot the rail bonds are then tapped with a hammer or su'lficient force is applied thereto in some other suitable manner to bring their contact points into intimate engagement with the rail and fish plates, in which posi tion they can be retained by tightening the nuts on the bolts d. The bolts also as sist in securing the fish plates to the rail and thus take the place of the bolts which are ordinarily employed for this purpose. The constructiim oi the rail joint is thus not weakened by applying the ad bonds thereto.

In the construction shown, rail bonds are employed at opposite sides of the rail at both ends of the fish plates. The rail bonds on one side may be dispensed with it de sired and the electric connection completed through only one of the fish plates instead of through both. The ail bonds, when in ])()Sili0ll,l,i0 close to the rail where there is little danger of their becoming displaced or broken by depending parts of atrain passing over the track or in any other manner. They can be cheaply manufactured an.. quickly attached to the rail and do not require any additional hole or other alteration to be made in the fish plate and the rail for securing the oil bond thereto.

\Ve claim as our invention:

1. The combination with a rail and fish plate, of a rail bond for electrically connecting said rail to said fish plate comprising a connecting body portion extending substantially pa 'allel with said rail and spaced therefrom, said body portion being provided'at its ends with contact portions which are adapted to engage the sides of said rail and said fish plate, and means engaging said body portion between said contact portions for securingsaid rail bond to said rail and said fish plate,-substantially as set forth.

The combination with a rail and fish plate, of a rail bond for electrically connecting said rail and said fish plate, having oil'- set contact portions at its opposite ends which are adapted to engage the sides of said rail and said fish plate, and means common to said. rail and said fish plate for securing said rail bond in position on said rail and clamping said fish plate between said rail bond and said rail, substantially as forth.

The combination with a rail and fish plate, of a rail bond for electrically connecting said rail and said fish plate comprising a connecting body portion extending sub stantially parallel with said rail and provided at its opposite ends with contact portions which project inwardly therefrom and are adapted to engage the sides of said rhil and said fish plate, and means for securing said rail bond to said rail and said fish plate, substantially as set forth.

at. The combination with a rail and fish plate, of a rail bond for electrically connect ing said rail and said fish plate, con'iprising aconnecting body portion extending substantially parallel with said rail and provided at its ends with offset contact portions which are adapted to engage the sides of said rail and fish plates, and a bolt extending through said rail and fish plate for curing said rail bond in position thereon, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with a rail and fish plate, of a rail bond for electrically connecting said rail and said fish plate, comprising a connecting body portion having oti'set end portions provided with detachable contact points which are adapted to engage said rail and said fish plate, and means tor securing said rail bond to said rail and fish plate, sub stantially as set forth.

6. The combination with a rail and fish plate, of a rail bond for electrically connecting said rail and said fish plate, comprising a connecting body portion having ottset end portions provided with contactpoints and contact rings surrounding the same and spaced therefrom, said points and rings being adapted to engage the sides of said rail and fish plate, a packing between said points and said rings, and means for securing said rail bond in position on said rail and said fish plate, substantially as set forth.

Witness our hands, this 30th day of June, 1910.

WILLIAM J. RANDOLPH, Sn. VYCILLIAM J. RANDOLPH, JR. I \Vitnesses:

ll IICIIAEL MCMAHON, JAMES W. BROPHEL. 

